Air-conditioning apparatus



Dec. 13, 1966 H, SHENKIN 3,291,117

AIR-CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed June 7, 1965 INVENTOR 20V HUBERT B. SHENKIN l I I United States Patent 3,291,117 AIR-CONDITIONING APPARATUS Hubert B. Shenkin, 4 Rock Court, Park Ridge, NJ. Filed June 7, 1965, Ser. No. 461,762 13 Claims. (Cl. 126-113) Statement of the invention The present invention pertains, generally, to air-conditioning apparatus, and more particularly, to a humidifier particularly adapted to be operatively associated with the furnace of a warm air heating system, said humidifier being so constructed and arranged as to unusually eficiently disseminate desirable and variable quantities of moisture into the heated air to be delivered to an enclosure in the simplest manner.

Statement of the problem Any number of air-conditioning apparatus for disseminating a desired quantity of moisture into the air within an enclosure, such as a room, or other similar space, have heretofore been suggested. In particular, many such apparatus as can be operatively associated or mounted upon the plenum of a warm air furnace are presently commercially available. This type of device is frequently found in a dwelling or home, and is installed either by the home owner, or by someone hired for that purpose.

While presently commercially available air-conditioning apparatus for performing this function may be satisfactory in certain respects, a number of very significant disadvantages are inherent therein. For example, and as pointed out above, a home owner will oftentimes attempt to install a device of this type by himself, frequently with a view towards saving the cost of installation by another, particularly after incurring the cost of the device itself. Air conditioning apparatus as are presently available generally are quite complex devices, so that installation thereof is more often than not time consuming, if not difficult. The dif iculty caused by the complexity of presently available air conditioning apparatus extends not only to the installation thereof, but also to the problem of repairing or replacing the various component parts that go towards making up the device. In this connection, and as an example, air conditioning apparatus for disseminating moisture into the air within an enclosure may comprise an element fabricated of a foraminous material which is particularly adapted to receive a liquid from within a reservoir, and transfer it to another location. The very nature of this type of element requires at least its repair, and probably its replacement, after continuous use for extended periods of time. This type of element may take the form of panels, or may be of annular configuration, thus rendering the repair or replacement thereof diilicult as well as time consuming. This will be recognized particularly when it is realized that the arrangement of the large number of elements that comprise a humidifier of this type within a housing presents an extremely complex appearance to the home dweller, thus even destroying his desire to attempt the repair himself. Moreover, the very presence of a reservoir in and of itself presents certain problems, such as dripping and the like.

It is considered readily apparent that air conditioning apparatus for efficiently disseminating quantities of moisture into the air to be delivered to within an enclosure involves the conveyance of a liquid from a source thereof to a location at which it is disseminated into the warm air plenum of a furnace. In the large majority of instances, this liquid is water and is supplied from a city or other local supply source at various prevailing pressures. It is well known that water can be hard or sof depend- 3,291,117 Patented Dec. 13, 1966 vision has been made to preclude the buildup-up of these deposits, generally known as the build-up of scale. It is the build-up of this scale that is directly responsible for clogging the various components or elements that go to making up the humidifier, with the result that there is a malfunction of one or more of the elements, and a final breakdown in the system as a whole. Since little provision has heretofore been made to preclude the build-up of scale, repair or replacement may be required more often, depending upon the extent to which the apparatus is used, which in turn may depend upon the location it is used, as well as other factors, such as the condition of health of those using the device.

' In addition to the problem of constant attendance, many other problems will inherently prevail as a result of scale build-up such as inefficiency of operation, in accuracy as concerns the demands upon the apparatus or device, and the resulting quantity of moisture disseminated into the air, and a detraction from the desire to maintain the device at optimum operating levels due to the mess created thereby. It is'here pointed out that what little attempt has been made to maintain optimum efliciency of operation suggests the utilization of ordinary and conventional filters. While this type of element can function to trap dust, dirt, and other foreign elements that find their way into a flowing fluid, they are hardly capable of substantially if not completely eliminating scale build-up, or at least reducing the presence of these deposits to a minimum.

Objects of the invention into the heated air to be delivered to an enclosure sub-' stantially, if not completely, in the absence of build-up of scale, enabling said humidfier to be continuously utilized at optimum operating efficiency over extended periods of time, said humidifier further being so constructed and arranged as to comprise a minimum number of component parts or elements, each of. which, while being simple of construction and operation, are yet efficient, durable and reliable, further enabling the apparatus to be installed with facility, and with the expenditure of a minimum amount of time and effort, still further enabling said humidifier apparatus to be continuously operable with minimum attendance, and the repair or replacement of any of the component parts thereof required to be readily and easily accomplished in the least complicated manner.

Another primary object of the present invention is to provide air conditioning apparatus, and more particularly, a humidifier for injecting or disseminating desirable and variable quantities of moisture in the form of a vapor or fog into the air to be delivered to an enclosure, such as a room, and the like, said humidifier being so constructed and arranged as to attain the utmost of simplicity, in-- stallation and operation, continuous, efiicient, and troublefree operation substantially, if not completely, in the absence of a build-up of scale, capable of utilization with various kinds of air heating and circulating systems, and accuracy and convenience of control, enabling the humidity within the enclosure to be maintained at the desired and predetermined percentum, substantially irrespective of exterior ambient conditions.

Yet another primary object of the present invention is to provide air conditioning apparatus, and more particularly, a humidifier for injecting or disseminating desirable and variable quantities of moisture in the form of a vapor or fog into an intimately commingled relationship with the air to be delivered to within an enclosure, such as a room, and the like, said humidifier being so constructed and arranged as to present a compact unit that is capable of installation with, for example, the warm air plenum of a standard furnace with the least expenditure of time and effort, and which is capable of cooperating with standard or conventional humidity control apparatus, air circulating equipment, and with available water supplies, to automatically and efficiently and effectively regulate the humidity in the conditioned enclosure, said apparatus being further constructed and arranged to enable the effectuation and obtaining of each of the fore going improved results substantially, if not completely, in the absence of a build-up of scale that would result in the clogging of the component parts or elements thereof, malfunction, and other deleterious effects.

A further primary object of this invention is to provide air conditioning apparatus, and particularly, a humidifier comprising the least number of component parts or elements which may be manufactured or purchased at minimal cost, and which may be conveniently, readily and easily installed, removed or disassembled for repair or replacement, and properly adjusted for optimum operating efiiciency by a novice.

The invention resides in the combination, construction, arrangement and disposition of the various component parts or elements incorporated in an improved air conditioning apparatus constructed in accordance herewith. The present invention will best be understood, and ob jects and important features other than those specifically enumerated above, will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description, which, when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawing, describes, discloses, shows and illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention and What is presently considered to be the best mode of practicing the principles thereof. Other embodiments or modifications may be suggested to those having the benefit of the teachings herein, and such other embodiments or modifications are intended to be reserved as they fall within the scope and spirit of the subjoined claims.

Description In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view in elevation of air conditioning apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view, partially broken away, of the air conditioning apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, showing certain interior details of construction;

' FIG. 3is a side elevational view, partially broken away, of the air conditioning apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, illustrating certain interior details of construction;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of one of the details of construction of the air conditioning apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic elevational illustration of an air conditioning apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention disposed in operative association with a standard warm air heating system;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an electric circuit for etfectuating the operation of the component parts or elements shown in FIG. 5; and

a plurality of side walls 14, a front wall 16, and top and bottom walls 18 and 20, respectively, for enclosing the space or area within the housing or casing 12. The rear of the casing is particularly adapted to remain unobstructed. The housing or casing 12 comprises, further, a flange 22 of a configuration similar to that of the housing or casing, and extending outwardly from the side. top and bottom walls. The flange 22 is particularly adapted to perform the function of enabling the apparatus 10 to be operatively associated with or mounted upon a conventional furnace, and, to that end, comprises a plurality of apertures 24 through which suitable fasteners (not shown) are particularly adapted to extend.

The air conditioning apparatus or humidifier 10 comprises, still further, a cold water supply line or conduit 26 that extends from without the casing 12 to the interior thereof. This conduit, at one of the ends thereof, comprises a coupling 28 which may be of any suitable and conventional construction and, preferably is of the quickdisconnect-type, enabling a connection with a cold water line (not shown) that, for example, is conventionally found in the basement of a dwelling to be etfectuated with optimum facility. Since the cold water line (not shown) found in the basement will usually require a T-fitting for enabling this connection to be made, it is within the scope of this invention that the humidifier 10 be provided with such an element. As pointed out above, the conduit 26 extends into the interior of the casing 12, and therewithin is particularly adapted to be removably operatively associated or connected with a demineralizer, hereinafter to be described. Accordingly, the conduit, at the other end thereof, comprises another coupling 30, which also is of the quick-disconnect-type.

The air conditioning or humidifying apparatus 10 comprises, still further, a demineralizer or demineralizing unit 34. The demineralizer or demineralizing unit is particu larly adapted to perform the function of softening the water that is conveyed through the medium of the conduit 26, and, after it has passed through the demineralizer, through the remaining component parts or elements of the humidifier 10, hereinafter to be described, until it is injected or disseminated into an intimately commingled relationship with the warm air to be delivered to an enclosure, such as a room, and the like. The attainment of this result is of the utmost significance, and is even critical in enabling the humidifier 10 to achieve the result of continuous and eificient operation over extended periods of time, substantially if not completely in the absence of a build-up of scale. That is, in the absence of providing the demineralizer or demineralizing unit 34, harmful deposits of calcium and magnesium salts will be deposited at various locations of a system of this type, thus interfering with their proper operation, and causing clogging, malfunction, and other undesirable and deleterious results. Accordingly, it is a salient feature of the present invention to provide a unit of this type, and while it may be of any suitable and conventional construction, it is preferably of the type that comprises a bed of ion exchange beads, or an ion exchange resin, that releases only sodium or other harmless ions in place of the harmful calcium and magnesium ions of water which are affixed to the beads or the resin, rather than being harmfully and undesirably deposited throughout the system. Preferably, then, the demineralizer 34 is of the type that is replaceable or disposable, having positioned therewithin a bed of ion exchange beads, or an ion exchange resin, which, for example, may be a phenolic methylene sulphonic cation exchanger, a nuclear sulphonic cation exchanger, and the like.

As pointed out above, the demineralizer 34 may be of any suitable and conventional type that is presently commerically available, provided it satisfies each and every one of the foregoing criteria. One such criteria is that it be capable of disassembly with facility from within the casing 12, particularly when it is of the disposable type. Accordingly, the demineralizer 34 will comprise an inlet 36 and an outlet 38, each of which will be so constructed and arranged as to enable its quick and ready assembly and disassembly with a conduit. With respect to the inlet 36, and as considered readily apparent, it is particularly adapted to be operatively associated with the conduit 26 through the medium of the quick-disconnect coupling 30. The outlet 38, in turn, is particularly adapted to be operatively associated with another conduit 40 having a quick'disconnect coupling 42 at one end thereof. By the simple operation of the couplings 30 and 42 in their well-known manner, it will now be understood that the demineralizer 34 may be assembled and disassembled with respect to the conduits 26 and 40 with the expenditure of a minimum amount of time and eifort. It will also be understood that the demineralizer 34 will eventually be rendered inoperable to perform its intended functions, as when the bed of ion exchange beads become saturated with the harmful deposits enumerated above. It should then be replaced with a fresh unit or cartridge, and to facilitate this, the top wall 18 of the casing 12 comprises a door 44. The door 44 preferably is hinged at the side wall 14 through which the conduit 26 extends, and comprises a knob 46 to facilitate its being pivotably moved between its various positions. It will be seen that, when the door 44 is in an open position, the demineralizer 34 can be removed by simply dis-connecting the quick-disconnect couplings 30 and 42 in their conventional and well-known manner. It may be desirable to provide some arrangement for indicating that the demineralizer should be replaced. To that end, an indicator lamp (not shown) can be mounted or positioned upon the front wall 16, and the conduit 40 provided with a by-pass (also not shown) enabling water in the conduit 4a? to fiow therethrough. When bubbles begin forming in the lamp, it will be an indication that the volume of water is too low, and that the demineralizer should be replaced.

The air-conditioning apparatus or humidifier 16 comprises, further, a shut-off valve 48 which may be of any suitable and conventional construction. The valve 48 comprises a control. handle 50 extending outwardly of the casing 12 through the front wall 16 to facilitate the operation thereof. The conduit 44 is particularly adapted to convey water from the demineralizer 34 to the shut-off valve 48, from whence the water is conveyed, through the medium of still another conduit 52 to a solenoid valve 54. The solenoid valve 54 may be of any suitable and conventional construction, and preferably is of the type that is normally disposed in a position to preclude the fiow of liquid or water from the conduit 52 to a conduit 56. The conduit 56, which at one end is operatively associated with the solenoid 54, terminates at its other end as a nozzle for injecting or disseminating a quantity of moisture in the form of a vapor or fog into the air to be circulated through a heating system and delivered into an enclosure, such as a room, and the like. The nozzle 58 may be of any suitable and conventional construction, and preferably comprises an O-ring 6th disposed in a groove at the tip thereof for a purpose hereinafter to be described.

It will now be understood that the air-conditioning apparatus or humidifier comprises the conduit system or assembly comprising the conduits 26, 40, 52 and 56 at least one of said conduits defining an inlet for conveying a liquid to the system from a source thereof, and another of said conduits comprising an outlet from said system, and terminating or defining at one end thereof a nozzle for injecting or disseminating liquid in the form of a vapor or fog into an intimately commingled relationship with the warm air to be circulated and delivered to an enclosure. It will further be understood that the dernineralizer 34, the shut-off valve 48 and the solenoid valve 54- are each of them operatively disposed within said conduit system, and in particular, are located therewithin so as to be disposed in a series relationship with respect to one another. Accordingly, the conduit system, which can also be denoted as an assembly for conveying a liquid, is particularly adapted to deliver a quantity thereof to the nozzle 58, so that the nozzle, in turn, can perform its intended functions. In so performing these functions, it is desirable that the quantity of moisture to be injected or disseminated in the manner aforesid be variable, and, to this end, the air-conditioning apparatus or humidifier 10 comprises, still further, a variable orifice assembly generally designated by the reference character 62. The orifice assembly 62 comprises an orifice plate which is particularly adapted to be mounted in spaced parallel relationship with respect to the opened or unobstructed end of the casing 12. This is accomplished through the medium of the shaft 66, which is fixedly connected centrally of he orifice plate 64, and extends through the casing 12, and outwardly thereof through the front wall 16. The shaft 66 terminates in a knob 68 for a purpose hereinafter to be rendered manifest. A compression spring 70 is disposed between the front wall 16 of the casing 12 and the knob 68, and is particularly adapted to bear against the latter, to cause the orifice plate 64 to be disposed in mutually co-operatively engageable relationship with respect to the terminal end of the nozzle 58. In this manner, the orifice plate 64 will bear against the O-ring 60, and the latter will bear against the former, so that the maximum desired quantity of water to be delivered by the conduit system will be delivered though the orifice plate, in a manner hereinafter to be described, substantially, if not completely, in the absence of any loss of fluid due to leakage between these two component parts or elements.

The orifice plate 64 comprises a number of apertures 72, 74, 76, 78 and 86, each of which are of increasing diametral dimensional extent, respectively. In this manner, and depending upon which one of the apertures 72-86! are disposed substantially in axial alignment with the tip of the nozzle 58, the quantity of moisture to be injected or disseminated into the circulating warm air can be varied as desired. This is accomplished with facility by simply urging the shaft 66 inwardly of the casing 12, thus urging the orifice plate 64 away from the tip of the nozzle 58, against the bias of the compression spring '70, and rotating the knob 63. To preclude the orifice 64 from wobbling, a standard 82 may be fixedly positioned thereupon, and may extend therefrom towards the casing 12, and particularly the flange 22 thereof. The fiange 22 may comprise an annular plate (not shown) extending inwardly therefrom, and having a groove or recess with a bottom wall (also not shown) within and along which the standard 82 may be translated to provide support for the standard 82. Alternatively, the standard 82 may be fixedly positioned on the flange 22 and may extend therefrom towards the orifice plate 64 which may be provided with a groove or recess with a bottom wall within and along which the standard 82 may be positioned to support the orifice plate 64 away from the tip of the nozzle 58, against the bias of the compression spring 70 and thereby precluding the orifice plate 64 from wobbling. It will be understood that urging the orifice plate 64 out of its mutually co-operatively engageable relationship with respect to the nozzle 58 to bring a different one of the apertures 72-80 into alignment with the nozzle is desirable in order to preclude excessive friction therebetween, and wearing away of the O-ring 60. The apertures 7280 may each of them be designated by a letter A-E that function as indicia for indicating that the apertures are of varying diametral dimensional extent. This same legend or indicia may be disposed upon the knob 68, as particularly illustrated in FIG. 2, so that an operator may readily and visually determine which of the apertures, in fact, are disposed in alignment with the nozzle.

With particular reference now to FIG. 5, there is shown therein a schematic illustration of a typical installation of air-conditioning or humidifying apparatus 10 constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention With the furnace 84 of a conventional warm air heating system, though it will be understood as hereinbefore pointed out, that the principles of the present invention are equally as well adaptable to other types of heating systems. The furnace 84 comprises a furnace fan 86, a warm air plenum 88, and a cold air return plenum 90. The air-conditioning or humidifying apparatus 10 is particularly adapted to be mounted or positioned upon the warm air plenum 88, while a humidistat of any suitable and conventional construction is particularly adapted to be mounted or positioned upon the cold air return plenum 90. This return duct or plenum is common to all of the enclosures or rooms within the dwelling in which the furnace 84 is contained, the return duct of each of said enclosures being connected thereto, so that, in effect, the humidistat 92 will command or determine the percentum of humidity with respect to each of said enclosures. A junction box 94 is positioned upon the furnace, and is particularly adapted to be supplied with a source of electrical energy from a conventional 120 volt supply 96. A furnace fan control 98 is also positioned or mounted upon the furnace, and is particularly adapted to control the furnace fan 86. The air-conditioning or humidifying apparatus 10, the humidistat 92, the furnace fan 86, and the furnace fan control 98 are all particularly adapted to be electrically inter-related with respect to one another by suitable electrical wiring 100. With particular reference now to FIG. 6, there is illustrated therein an electrical schematic showing the manner in which each of the aforesaid elements are electrically inter-related with respect to one another. In particular, it will be seen that the furnace fan 86 and the air-conditioning or humidifying apparatus 10 are disposed in parallel with respect to one another, so that the humidifier will not be rendered operative unless the furnace fan 86 is rendered operative. That is, unless the furnace fan control 98 receives a signal rendering the fan 86 operative, enabling the furnace 84 to deliver warm air to the warm air plenum 88, which is then circulated to all of the enclosures within the dwelling, the humidifier 10 will remain inoperative, notwithstanding a signal received thereby from the humidistat 92.

The use and operation of the air-conditioning or humidifying apparatus 10, constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, and the system in which it is particularly adapted to be disposed, will now be readily apparent in view of the foregoing description thereof. Thus, the humidistat 92 is particularly adapted to measure the quantity of moisture in the air in the cold air return plenum 90. At this point, it will of course be understood that while the humidistat may be of any suitable and conventional construction, preferably, it is of the type that is adjustable for varying quantities of moisture. If the humidity as measured is substantially the same as or higher than the humidistat, it will not be rendered operative. However, if the humidity as measured is lower than the predetermined value, the humidistat will be rendered operative. Since the humidistat is disposed in series with the air-conditioning or humidifying apparatus 10, and is disposed in parallel with the furnace fan 86, then, as long as the fan has been actuated, through the medium of the furnace fan control 98, the signal received by the humidifier 10 from the humidistat 92 will energize or cause the actuation of the former. In this connection, it will be realized that in defining the humidistat 92 as being electrically inter-related with the humidifier 10, it is specifically the solenoid valve 54 of the latter that is connected into the circuit illustrated in FIG. 6. Since, as hereinbefore pointed out, the solenoid valve is preferably of the type that is normally closed, upon the actuation or energization thereof, it will be translated to an opened position, thus enabling the conduit system defined hereinabove to convey liquid or water to the nozzle 58. Stated in other words, if the humidistat 92 commands the humidifier 10 to function, and the furnace fan 86 is operating, then the solenoid valve 54 which is normally closed will open and allow the conduit system to convey liquid or water therethrough. The liquid or water will first flow through the demineralizer 34 which, as hereinbefore pointed out, will absorb the calcium, magnesium, iron and manganese salts that would otherwise tend to accumulate as scale on the remaining elements. The demineralizer, therefore, softens the water, enabling only the release of sodium or other harmless ions that do not effect the operation of the system. It will now be noted that this salient element of the humidifier 10 is the first element through which the liquid or water must flow. Accordingly, the water is softened before it reaches the shut-off valve 48, the solenoid valve 54, and the nozzle 58. Once the liquid or water has flowed through the demineralizer 34, it flows through the shut-off valve 48, which of course is opened, and the solenoid valve 54, which has been energized to an open position, and is thence conveyed to the nozzle 58 through the medium of the conduit 56, whence it is injected or disseminated in the form of a vapor, fog or fine mist into an intimately commingled relationship with the Warm air received by the plenum 88 from the furnace 84. The humidified warm air is thence delivered into the various enclosures or rooms within the dwelling. The quantity of moisture can be varied in a plurality of ways. Firstly, the humidistat 92 is, as hereinbefore pointed out, preferably of the type that is adjustable for varying quantities of moisture. This adjustment, however, pertains to the on and off time of that particular element. It may be desirable, however, to vary the quantity of moisture injected into the warm air circulating through the plenum 88 during an on cycle of the humidistat. This, as hereinbefore pointed out, may be accomplished with extreme facility by simply urging the orifice plate 64 away from the nozzle 58, whence it can be rotated to bring another one of the apertures 72-80 into alignment with the nozzle. Thus, while normally the predetermined setting of the humidistat will supply the desired quantity of moisture, and while the position of the orifice plate 64 will generally be predetermined to dispose that one of the apertures 72-80 into alignment with the nozzle 58 so as to provide that desired quantity of moisture, a further variation can be effected to suit the comfort of the individual dweller at substantially any time. It is significant to realize that under no condition can the humidifier 10 be rendered operative when the furnace fan 86 is inoperative. Not only is this safety feature built into a system in accordance with the principles of the present invention, but an additional safety feature is incorporated in that, even during the operation thereof, it can be shut down by simply eifectuating operation of the shut-off valve 48. This may be desirable when, for example, it is determined that the demineralizer34 is no longer efficient for its intended purpose. Other conditions may also prevail requiring repair or replacement while the system is operative, resulting in a need for an immediate and rapid shutdown. Again, this may easily be accomplished through the medium of the shut-off valve 48. Additionally, while the humidistat 92 may be of any suitable and conventional construction, as hereinbefore pointed out,

9 it is preferably of the type having an off position so that the system may be rendered inoperative whenever desired.

In view of the foregoing, it will now be understood that air-conditioning or humidifying apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, such as the humidifier 10, comprises the least number of component parts or elements, a number of which may be fabricated of any suitable material and in any suitable manner, at minimal manufacturing costs. Thus, for example, the conduit system comprising the conduits 26, 40, 52 and 56 may be fabricated of copper tubing. The casing 12 may be fabricated of cheap metal. The remaining component parts or elements of the humidifier 10 may be of any suitable and conventional construction, provided they possess the desired requisites, and are capable of performing their intended functions efiiciently. These elements or component parts are presently commercially available, and may, therefore, be purchased without any difficulty. Accordingly, not only is the initial cost of a humidifier constructed in accordance with this invention capable of being substantially reduced, not only is the installation thereof rendered capable of being accomplished with extreme facility, but repair or replacement of the component parts or elements may be efiected with facility, and with the expenditure of a minimum amount of time and effort. In particular, the demineralizer 34 may readily and easily be replaced by pivoting the door 44 to an opened position, and disassembling the demineralizer with respect to the conduits 26 and 46 through the medium of the quick-disconnect couplings 3t) and 42. This unit may be disposed of, and replaced with another unit of a similar type. The choice of a demineralizer unit possessing the hereinabove enumerated requisite characteristics will be capable of performing its intended functions continuously over extended periods of usage. Due to its position within the system, and if the proper unit is chosen, there should be little if any need for repair or replacement of the remaining component parts or elements of the humidifier 1t notwithstanding a continued and extended period of use. It is now pointed out that, since the humidifier l constructed in accordance herewith can be manufactured or fabricated at such reduced costs, the manufacturer can well afford to supply the home dweller with the necessary tools and other contrivances necessary to effect installation, such as the aforementioned T-fitting, suitable fasteners, the necessary tools, and even a supply of extra copper tubing should its use be required.

After reading the foregoing detailed description in conjunction with the drawing of what is considered to be an exemplary form of the present invention, it will be understood that the objects set forth at the outset of this specification have successfully been achieved; and, while the invention has been shown, illustrated, described and disclosed in terms of what is considered to be an'embodiment or modification that it will assume in practice, the scope of the invention should not be deemed to be limited thereby, such other embodiments or modifications intended to be reserved especially as they fall within the scone of the claims here appended.

What is claimed is:

1. Air-conditioning apparatus particularly adapted to efficiently disseminate desired and variable quantities of moisture into the air to be delivered to within an enclosure, such as a room, and the like, comprising, in combination:

a casing having a front wall, a plurality of side walls,

and a bottom and top wall, said top wall comprising:

a hinged door enabling access to be had interiorly of said casing; and

a flange extending completely peripherally about said casing, enabling said casing to be fixedly positioned upon the warm air plenum of a heating system;

the rear of said casing being open and unobstructed,

l@ enabling communication to be had between said casing and the plenum;

a system of conduits disposed Within said casing for conveying a liquid from a source thereof to the plenum, said system comprising:

a first conduit extending through one of the side walls of said casing from exteriorly thereof, and having:

a quick-disconnect coupling at each end thereof;

a second, third and fourth conduit;

said second conduit having a quick-disconnect coupling at one end thereof, and at another end thereof communicating with a shut-off valve;

said shut-off valve comprising:

an operating handle extending outwardly of said casing through the front wall thereof;

said third conduit communicating at one end thereof with said shut-off valve, and at another end thereof with a normally closed electrically energizeable solenoid valve;

said fourth conduit communicating at one end thereof with said solenoid valve, and at another end thereof, terminating in a nozzle;

said nozzle being so constructed and arranged as to disseminate desired and variable quantities of moisture into the air circulating within the plenum in the form of a mist or fog, and comprising:

an annular groove;

an annular O-ring disposed within said groove;

a demineralizer removably disposed within said system of conduits between the first and second conduits thereof, and in series relationship with respect to said shut-off valve, the solenoid valve, and said nozzle; and comprising:

a bed of an ion exchange resin, enabling said demineralizer to soften the water conveyed therethrough through the medium of the first and second conduits of said system of conduits, further enabling a substantial, if not complete, elimination of formation of harmful deposits of calcium, magnesium, and the like, or scale, on the shut-off and solenoid valves, on the nozzle, and in the remaining conduits of the systems;

said demineralizer being removably connected to said first and second conduits through said quick-disconnect couplings, enabling it to be repaired or replaced with extreme facility through the medium of said hinged door;

a variable orifice assembly for varying the quantity of moisture to be disseminated into the plenum, comprising:

a rotatable orifice plate disposed in spaced substantially parallel relationship With respect to the opened and unobstructed end of said casing; and having:

a plurality of apertures of varying diametral dimensional extent;

a rotatable shaft fixed upon said plate, and extending through and outwardly of said casing through the front wall thereof;

said shaft having a knob enabling said orifice plate to be rotatably translated from a location frontally of said casing between positions in which any desired one of the apertures extending therethrough are dis' posed substantially in alignment with said nozzle;

a compression spring disposed between the front wall of said casing and said knob for maintaining said orifice plate in firm mutual co-operative engagement with said nozzle;

a standard fixed to said orifice plate and extending towards and into a groove disposed within an annular extension directed inwardly from said flange to preclude wobbling of said orifice plate;

said O-ring insuring that the quantity of liquid conveyed into the nozzle by the system of conduits is directed into and through the aperture disposed in alignment therewith, and precluding any leakage between the nozzle and said orifice plate;

bination:

a casing particularly adapted to be fixedly positioned upon the plenum of a heating system through which air is to be circulated and delivered to an enclosure;

a system of conduits disposed within said casing for conveying a liquid from a source thereof to the plenum; said system of conduits having:

a normally closed solenoid valve disposed therewithin and a nozzle at an end thereof particularly adapted to be disposed within said plenum; and

a demineralizer removably disposed within said system of conduits in a serially preceding relationship with respect to said solenoid valve and said nozzle; and comprising:

a bed of an ion exchange resin, enabling said demineralizer to soften the water conveyed therethrough, further enabling a substantial, if not complete, elimination of the formation of harmful deposits of calcium. magnesium, and the like, or scale, on the solenoid valve, on the nozzle, and on the remainder of the conduit system; and

a variable orifice assembly for varying the quantity of moisture to be disseminated into the plenum.

3. Air-conditioning apparatus as defined in claim 2,

wherein:

said casing comprises a door enabling access to be had interiorly thereof; and wherein:

said system of conduits comprises quick-disconnect couplings enabling said demineralizer to be repaired or replaced with extreme facility through the medium of said door.

4. Air-conditioning apparatus as defined in claim 3,

wherein:

said nozzle assembly comprises:

an annular groove; and

an annular O-ring disposed within said groove; and

wherein:

said variable orifice assembly comprises:

a rotatable orifice plate disposed in spaced substantially parallel relationship with respect to that end of the casing adjacent thereto; and having:

a plurality of apertures of varying diametral dimensional extent;

a rotatable shaft fixed upon said plate, and extending through and outwardly of said casing;

said shaft having a knob enabling said orifice plate to be rotatably translated between positions in which any desired one of the apertures extending therethrough are disposed between said casing and said knob for maintaining said orifice plate in firm mutual co-operative engagement with said nozzle;

said O-ring insuring that the quantity of liquid conveyed into the nozzle by the system of conduits is directed into and through the aperture disposed in alignment therewith, and precluding any leakage between the nozzle and said orifice plate.

5. Air-conditioning apparatus as defined in claim 4,

wherein there is further provided:

a standard fixed to said orifice plate and extending towards said casing to preclude wobbling thereof.

6. Air-conditioning apparatus as defined in claim 5,

wherein:

said system of conduits comprises:

a first conduit extending into said casing from exteriorly thereof, and having:

a quick-disconnect coupling at each end thereof; and

a plurality of remaining conduits;

one of said remaining conduits having a quick-disconnect coupling at one end thereof;

said demineralizer being removably connected to said first conduit, and to said one of the remaining conduits, through the medium of said quick-disconnect couplings.

7. Air-conditioning apparatus as defined in claim 6,

wherein there is further provided:

a shut-off valve disposed within that portion of said system of conduits defined by the remaining conduits thereof; and comprising:

an operating handle extending outwardly of the casing; said demineralizer being disposed in serially preceding relationship with respect to the remainder of said system of conduits, said solenoid valve, and said nozzle, and said shut-off valve being disposed in serially succeeding relationship with respect to said demineralizer, and serially preceding relationship with respect to said solenoid valve.

8. Air-conditioning apparatus as defined in claim 7,

wherein:

shaft of said variable orifice assembly extends through said casing, outwardly and to a location frontally thereof, enabling an operator to rotatably translate said orifice plate from that location; and wherein:

said knob comprises indicia thereupon corresponding with similar indicia on said orifice plate, enabling an operator to visually determine which of the apertures, when disposed in alignment with the nozzle, will present the desired quantity of moisture dissemination.

9. Air-conditioning apparatus particularly adapted to efliciently disseminate desired and variable quantities of moisture into the air to be delivered to within an enclosure, such as a room, and the like, comprising, in combination:

a casing having;

a hinged door enabling access to be had interiorly thereof, and a rear opened and unobstructed end, enabling communication to be had between said casing and the plenum of an air heating system;

a system of conduits disposed within said casing for conveying liquid from a source thereof to the plenum, said system comprising:

a first conduit extending into said casing from exteriorly thereof, and having:

a quick-disconnect coupling at each end thereof;

one of the remaining conduits of said system thereof having a quick-disconnect coupling at one end thereof, and at another end thereof communicating with a shut-off valve;

said shut-off valve comprising:

an operating handle extending outwardly of said casing ing to a location generally frontally thereof;

a normally closed solenoid valve disposed within said system of conduits in serially succeeding relationship with respect to said shut-off valve;

said system of conduits, at a location to be within said plenum, and in spaced relationship with respect to the opened and unobstructed end of said casing, terminating in a nozzle for disseminating desired and variable quantities of moisture into the air circulating within the plenum in the form of a mist or fog; said nozzle comprising:

an annular groove; and

an annular O-ring disposed within said groove;

a demineralizer removably disposed within said system of conduits in serially preceding relationship with respect to said shut-off valve; and comprising:

a bed of an ion exchange resin, enabling said demineralizer to soften the water conveyed therethrough through the medium of said system of conduits, further enabling a substantial, if not complete, elimination of the formation of harmful deposits of calcium, magnesium, and the like, and scale, on the shut-off and solenoid valves, on the nozzle, and on and in the remaining conduits of said system;

said demineralizer being removably connected into said system of conduits through the medium of said quickdisconnect couplings, enabling it to be repaired or replaced with extreme facility through the medium of said door; and a variable orifice assembly for varythe quantity of moisture to be disseminated into the plenum.

10. Air-conditioning apparatus as defined in claim 9,

wherein:

said variable orifice assembly comprises:

a rotatable orifice plate disposed in spaced substantially parallel relationship with respect to the opened and unobstructed end of the casing; and having:

a plurality of apertures of varying diametral dimensional extent;

a rotatable shaft fixed upon said plate, and extending through and outwardly of said casing;

said shaft having a knob enabling said orifice plate to be rotatably translated from a location frontally of said casing between positions in which any desired one of the apertures extending therethrough are disposed substantially in alignment with said nozzle;

a compression spring disposed between the casing and said knob for maintaining the orifice plate in firm mutual co-operative engagement with said nozzle;

said O-ring insuring that the quantity of liquid conveyed into the nozzle by the system of conduits is directed into and through the aperture disposed in [alignment therewith, and precluding any leakage between the nozzle and said orifice plate.

'11. Air-conditioning apparatus as defined in claim 10,

wherein:

said knob comprises:

indicia disposed thereupon corresponding with similar indicia on said orifice plate, enabling an operator to visually determine which of the apertures, when disposed in alignment with the nozzle, will present the desired quantity of moisture dissemination.

12. Air-conditioning apparatus particularly adapted to efficiently disseminate desired and variable quantities of moisture into the air to be delivered to within an enclosure, such as a room, and the like, comprising, in combination a casing particularly adapted to be fixedly positioned upon the plenum of a heating system through which air is to circulated and delivered to an enclosure;

a system of conduits disposed within said casing for conveying a liquid from a source thereof to the plenum; said system of conduits having:

normally closed valve means disposed therewithin,

and a nozzle at an end thereof particularly adapted to be disposed within said plenum; and

a demineralizer disposed within said system of conduits in a serially preceding relationship with respect to said normally closed valve means and said nozzle; and comprising:

a bed of an ion exchange resin, enabling said demineralizer to soften the water conveyed therethrough, fur ther enabling a substantial, if not complete, elimination of the formation of harmful deposits of calcium, magnesium, and the like, or scale, on the valve means, on the nozzle, and on the remainder of the conduit system; and

a variable orifice assembly for varying the quantity of moisture to be disseminated into the plenum.

13. Air-conditioning apparatus particularly adapted to efficiently disseminate desired and variable quantities of moisture into the air to be delivered to within an enclosure, such as a room, and the like, comprising, in combination;

a casing particularly adapted to be fixedly positioned upon the plenum of a heating system through which air is to be circulated and delivered to an enclosure;

a system of conduits disposed within said casing for conveying a liquid from a source thereof to the plenum; said system of conduits having:

normally closed valve means disposed therewithin and a nozzle at an end thereof particularly adapted to be disposed within said plenum; and

a demineralizer disposed within said system of conduits in a serially preceding relationship with respect to said normally closed valve means and said nozzle; and comprising:

a bed of an ion exchange resin, enabling said demineralizer to soften the water conveyed therethrough, further enabling a substantial, if not complete, elimination of the formation of harmful deposits of calcium, magnesium, and the like, or scale, on the valve means, on the nozzle, and on the remainder of the conduit system; and

an orifice assembly for varying the quantity of moisture to be disseminated into the plenum.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 578,706 3/1897 Adams 239-394 630,468 8/1899 Quayle 23644 1,751,806 3/1930 Fleisher 23644 2,062,605 12/1936 Peters. 2,793,599 4/1957 Peak 122279 X 3,102,531 9/1963 Gross 126-113 3,215,416 11/1965 Liben 126-113 X JAMES W. WESTHAVER, Primary Examiner. 

1. AIR-CONDITIONING APPARATUS PARTICULARLY ADAPTED TO EFFICIENTLY DISSEMINATE DESIRED AND VARIABLE QUANTITIES OF MOISTURE INTO THE AIR TO BE DELIVERED TO WITHIN AN ENCLOSURE, SUCH AS A ROOM, AND THE LIKE, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: A CASING HAVING A FRONT WALL, A PLURALITY OF SIDE WALLS, AND A BOTTOM AND TOP WALL, SAID TOP WALL COMPRISING: A HINGED DOOR ENABLING ACCESS TO BE HAD INTERIORLY OF SAID CASING; AND A FLANGE EXTENDING COMPLETELY PERIPHERALLY ABOUT SAID CASING, ENABLING SAID CASING TO BE FIXEDLY POSITIONED UPON THE WARM AIR PLENUM OF A HEATING SYSTEM; THE REAR OF SAID CASING BEING OPEN AND UNOBSTRUCTED, ENABLING COMMUNICATION TO BE HAD BETWEEN SAID CASING AND THE PLENUM; A SYSTEM OF CONDUITS DISPOSED WITHIN SAID CASING FOR CONVEYING A LIQUID FROM A SOURCE THEREOF TO THE PLENUM, SAID SYSTEM COMPRISING: A FIRST CONDUIT EXTENDING THROUGH ONE OF THE SIDE WALLS OF SAID CASING FROM EXTERIORLY THEREOF, AND HAVING: A QUICK-DISCONNECT COUPLING AT EACH END THEREOF; A SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH CONDUIT; SAID SECOND CONDUIT HAVING A QUICK-DISCONNECT COUPLING AT ONE END THEREOF, AND AT ANOTHER END THEREOF COMMUNICATING WITH A SHUT-OFF VALVE; SAID SHUT-OFF VALVE COMPRISING: AN OPERATING HANDLE EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF SAID CASING THROUGH THE FRONT WALL THEREOF; SAID THIRD CONDUIT COMMUNICATING AT ONE END THEREOF WITH SAID SHUT-OFF VALVE, AND AT ANOTHER END THEREOF WITH A NORMALLY CLOSED ELECTRICALLY ENERGIZABLE SOLENOID VALVE; SAID FOURTH CONDUIT COMMUNICATING AT ONE END THEREOF WITH SAID SOLENOID VALVE, AND AT ANOTHER END THEREOF, TERMINATING IN A NOZZLE; SAID NOZZLE BEING SO CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED AS TO DISSEMINATE DESIRED AND VARIABLE QUANTITIES OF MOISTURE INTO THE AIR CIRCULATING WITHIN THE PLENUM IN THE FORM OF A MIST OR FOG, AND COMPRISING: AN ANNULAR GROOVE; AN ANNULAR O-RING DISPOSED WITHIN SAID GROOVE; A DEMINERALIZER REMOVABLY DISPOSED WITHIN SAID SYSTEM OF CONDUITS BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND CONDUITS THEREOF, AND IN SERIES RELATIONSHIP WITH RESPECT TO SAID SHUT-OFF VALVE, THE SOLENOID VALVE, AND SAID NOZZLE; AND COMPRISING: A BED OF AN ION EXCHANGE RESIN, ENABLING SAID DEMINERALIZER TO SOFTEN THE WATER CONVEYED THERETHROUGH THROUGH THE MEDIUM OF THE FIRST AND SECOND CONDUITS OF SAID SYSTEM OF CONDUITS, FURTHER ENABLING A SUBSTANTIAL, IF NOT COMPLETE, ELIMINATION OF FORMATION OF HARMFUL DEPOSITS OF CALCIUM, MAGNESIUM, AND THE LIKE, OR SCALE, ON THE SHUT-OFF AND SOLENOID VALVES, ON THE NOZZLE, AND IN THE REMAINING CONDUITS OF THE SYSTEMS; SAID DEMINERALIZER BEING REMOVABLY CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND CONDUITS THROUGH SAID QUICK-DISCONNECT COUPLINGS, ENABLING IT TO BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED WITH EXTREME FACILITY THROUGH THE MEDIUM OF SAID HINGED DOOR; A VARIABLE ORIFICE ASSEMBLY FOR VARYING THE QUANTITY OF MOISTURE TO BE DISSEMINATED INTO THE PLENUM, COMPRISING: A ROTATABLE ORIFICE PLATE DISPOSED IN SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP WITH RESPECT TO THE OPENED AND UNOBSTRUCTED END OF SAID CASING; AND HAVING: A PLURALITY OF APERTURES OF VARYING DIAMETRAL DIMENSIONAL EXTENT; A ROTATABLE SHAFT FIXED UPON SAID PLATE, AND EXTENDING THROUGH AND OUTWARDLY OF SAID CASING THROUGH THE FRONT WALL THEREOF; SAID SHAFT HAVING A KNOB ENABLING SAID ORIFICE PLATE TO BE ROTATABLY TRANSLATED FROM A LOCATION FRONTALLY OF SAID CASING BETWEEN POSITIONS IN WHICH ANY DESIRED ONE OF THE APERTURES EXTENDING THERETHROUGH ARE DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID NOZZLE; A COMPRESSION SPRING DISPOSED BETWEEN THE FRONT WALL OF SAID CASING AND SAID KNOB FOR MAINTAINING SAID ORIFICE PLATE IN FIRM MUTUAL CO-OPERATIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID NOZZLE; A STANDARD FIXED TO SAID ORIFICE PLATE AND EXTENDING TOWARDS AND INTO A GROOVE DISPOSED WITHIN AN ANNULAR EXTENSION DIRECTED INWARDLY FROM SAID FLANGE TO PRECLUDE WOBBLING OF SAID ORIFICE PLATE; SAID O-RING INSURING THAT THE QUANTITY OF LIQUID CONVEYED INTO THE NOZZLE BY THE SYSTEM OF CONDUITS IS DIRECTED INTO AND THROUGH THE APERTURE DISPOSED IN ALIGNMENT THEREWITH, AND PRECLUDING ANY LEAKAGE BETWEEN THE NOZZLE AND SAID ORIFICE PLATE; SAID KNOB HAVING INDICIA THEREUPON CORRESPONDING WITH SIMILAR INDICIA ON SAID ORIFICE PLATE, ENABLING AN OPERATOR TO VISUALLY DETERMINE WHICH OF THE APERTURES, WHEN DISPOSED IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE NOZZLE, WILL PRESENT THE DESIRED QUANTITY OF MOISTURE DISSEMINATION. 